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(NoMode L) I F. W. WATKINS.

FASTENING FOR PICTURE FRAME BAGKS. 7

N0. 374 64'5. Patented De0.13, 1887.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK W. WATKINS, OF NEW BEDFORD, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO CHARLES TABER & CO., OF SAME PLACE.

FASTENING FOR PICTURE-FRAME BACKS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 374.645,\dated December 13, 1887.

Application filed May 6, 1887. Serial No. 237,314. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FRANK W. WATKINs, a citizen of the United States, residing at New Bedford, in the county of Bristol and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Fastening for Picture-Frame Backs, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to the fastenings used to retain the backing of a wooden pictureframe in place; and it consists in providing said wooden picture-frame with flat and pliable pieces of metal, attached thereto by nails or screws, and adapted to be bent over'the edges of said backing.

Heretofore thebacking of pictures having wooden frames has been retained in place by means of nails driven through the backing into the frame, or, when the backing has been in contact with the back of the picture, it has been fastened there by means of nails driven into the sides of the rabbet of the frame.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a view of a wooden picture-frame with the backing secured to it by means of my improved fastening. Fig. 2 is a view in crosssection of one side of said frame; and Fig. 3 is a view of the fastening.

In Fig. 1, or represents the back of awooden pictureframe. b represents the backing of the same, and c 0 represent the flat and plia ble metallic fastenings which retain said backing inplace.

In Fig. 2, a-represents the frame; 0, the

glass; 9, the picture; I), the backing, and c the fastening.

The fastening is attached to the frame by means of the flat-headed nail d, driven through it into the frame. The backing b is then put in place and the end h of the fastening bent over the edge of the backing.

Ifdesired, the fastening 0 can be extended or made longer, as shown at t, and that end used to bend down against and hold the picture gfirmly against the glass e, asshown at k.

The fastening c is provided with a hole, a, through which the nail or screw d passes when it is attached to the frame.

When a picture has been mounted in a frame and the back secured by these fastenings, as shown, and it is desired to remove the picture to substitute another .or different one, there are no tools necessary to perform the operation, as the fasten ings a can easily be bent and rebent to place by the fingers.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,'is

As a new article of manufacture, afastening for the backs of picture-frames, consisting of the fiat and pliable piece of metal 0, provided with the hole It, as shown and described.

FRANK w. WATKINS.

Witnesses:

HENRY W. MASON, THos. M. JAMEs. 

